RookReview

Chennai Grand Masters 2026 Begins in India on July 16

The [Quantbox Chennai Grand Masters 2026](https://rookreview.com/tournaments/19){:target="_blank"} begins tomorrow at The Westin Chennai Velachery in India. The event runs from July 16 to 22, and first matches start at 9:30 AM UTC. The t...

07.15 19:20

Nakamura: "I've actually felt that the rating spot for the Candidates is not necessary for a long time..."

Hikaru Nakamura shared his opinion on the changes to the qualification paths for the FIDE Candidates Tournament. Nakamura says that the removal of the rating slot is not a problem for him, and notes that he has long considered it unneces...

07.15 18:23

Alireza Firouzja Will Not Play at the Chess Olympiad — France Roster Revealed

The French Chess Federation announced the men’s and women’s national rosters for the 46th Chess Olympiad. The event will take place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from September 15 to 28.

07.15 17:52

“Regressive reforms for the sake of appearing to do something new are not reforms...” — Coach Ramesh

Coach Ramesh Ramachandran commented on the format change in the FIDE World Chess Cup. Ramesh believes the organizers' goal is to reduce time for deep thinking, and calls the changes a regressive reform.

07.15 17:01

Levon: "I didn't like playing chess for a long time... I only fell in love with the game when I was 30"

Levon Aronian spoke about his relationship with chess throughout his career. Levon says that high expectations previously took the fun out of chess for him, and notes that he started enjoying the game at age 30.

07.15 15:48

“The way they've botched and completely murdered what the World Cup was is horrendous for chess...” — Hikaru Nakamura

Hikaru Nakamura commented on the format change in the FIDE World Chess Cup. Nakamura believes the changes have destroyed the World Cup, and notes that shortening time control will not bring more viewers.

07.15 14:10

Anna Muzychuk Will Not Play at the Chess Olympiad — Ukraine Rosters Revealed

The head coaches of the Ukrainian national team, Alexander Belyavskyi and Mykhailo Brodskyi, announced the men’s and women’s rosters for the 46th Chess Olympiad. The event will take place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from September 15 t...

07.14 21:05

Hikaru: "There is a lack of online events… It’s a dry landscape at the moment"

Hikaru Nakamura shared his opinion on online events. Nakamura believes that there are not enough online tournaments at the moment, and notes that the situation is unlikely to change.

07.14 20:25

“Karpov is either 4th or 5th in history. He’s very underrated historically...” — Hikaru Nakamura

Hikaru Nakamura shared his opinion on the chess career of Anatoly Karpov. Nakamura believes that Anatoly is historically underrated, and notes that Karpov was World's No. 2 for a long time.

07.14 19:36

Parham Maghsoodloo Wins Titled Tuesday with 10 Points on July 14

Iranian GM Parham Maghsoodloo scored 10 points with 10 wins and 2 draws to win the Titled Tuesday on July 14. Runner-up Praggnanandhaa R won 9 times, drew 1 time, and lost once, which led him to finish second with 9.5 points.

07.14 18:03

Lichess Improves Game Analysis, ChessCom Puts Advanced Stats Behind Paywall 1

In July, chess platforms Lichess.org and Chess.com introduced changes to their game analysis systems. Lichess expanded its functionality, while Chess.com made certain features available only to specific paid subscription tiers.

07.14 17:35

"There are two different tournaments now..." — GM Nijat Abasov on World Chess Cup Changes

Azerbaijani GM Nijat Abasov commented on the format change in the FIDE World Chess Cup. Abasov says the event is now split into two different tournaments, and notes he prefers the old system.

07.14 15:52

New Candidates Qualification Paths — Rating Spot Removed 1

FIDE announced changes to the qualification paths for the FIDE Candidates Tournament on July 14. The update is approved by the FIDE Council and will take effect from the 2028 event.

07.14 13:34

Cuban GM Loses Food Provision — Nogueiras Struggles to Get a Daily Meal

Cuban GM Jesus Nogueiras has reported a problem with his food provision. Nogueiras says the place where he should receive daily meals cut him off. The reason was the lack of coordination between the institutions responsible for his provi...

07.13 21:05

Paris Masters Championship 2026 Cancelled Due to Extreme Heat

Organizers of the Paris Masters Championship announced the cancellation of the 2026 tournament. The cancellation follows an emergency decree issued by the French government and local police authorities.

07.13 19:42